Needle actuating mechanism for knitting machines



Oct. 18, 1960 s. A. DAHLQVIST EI'AL 2,956,424

NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR w m Mw Mk WM n An MW ME ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1960 5. A. DAHLQVIST ET'AL NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R w mT m m m WQW MA [5 S ML NM av M M FL A 6 o w E m United States Patent 6 NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Georg Alfons Dahlqvist, Billdalsgatan 3, and Erik Ake Karlssou, ST Michelsgatan 2B, both of Boras, Sweden Filed Apr. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 577,241

4 Claims. (Cl. 6675) This invention relates to knitting machines of the class having needles set in straight rows such as the Lamb type and more particularly it refers to a mechanism for actuating the needles of such a machine in such a manner that a patterned fabric may be automatically manufactured thereon.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above described character, which is simple in its construction and which may be mounted on, for example, simple hand knitting machines, which can thereby take the place of automatic knitting machines at much less cost.

The invention comprises an impulse unit, including a pattern chain or a Jacquard card, from which unit impulses are sent to a distributing unit, which latter distributes the impulses to the desired needles.

Reference is had to the accompanying. drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the knitting machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line a-a of Fig. l, with some of the elements being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing particularly the elements, which cooperate with the cams of the pattern chain.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the needle actuating jack and associated elements.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of needle control unit for the knitting machine.

The machine according to Figs. 1 to 4 consists of a Lambs knitting machine 1, the slide 2 of which has a projection 3, to which is pivotally connected one end of a rod 4, the opposite end of which is movably connected to one of the links of a chain 5. Said chain runs over two pulleys 6 and 7, the latter of which is power driven. A transversely projecting cam 8 is fastened to a further link of said chain, which link is half the length of said chain from said first mentioned link. A similar cam 9 is attached to said first mentioned link, to which said rod 4 is hingedly connected. A lever 10 is pivotally connected at one end to a standard 11. At a point between the pivot center of the lever 10 and the free end of the same there is fixed one end of a wire 12 of a Bowden-cable, the outer cover of which is fastened to another standard 13. The other end of said wire is fastened to a swingably mounted arm 14, Fig. 2. Said arm is held in a rest position by a coil spring 15. A pawl 16 is pivotally connected to the arm 14 and has for its purpose to co-operate with a ratchet wheel 18 for the advancement of the pattern chain. Said wheel is for this reason fixed to the wheel 17 of the pattern chain. A crank 19, having a transverse projection 20 for co-operation with said arm 14, is fixedly connected to a shaft 21, which is journalled between a pair of standards 24. To said shaft are also fixedly connected two axially spaced apart plates 22, which are mutually connected by means of a transverse rod 23. With the same pivot center as the arm 14, Figs. 2-3, there are pivoted several bars 25, one for every distribution rod, to which are fixedly connected- 30 are pivoted to said bars 26. Each finger has a shaft 31, which is very short and serves as a pivot center for a wire member 32, having its opposite end portion formed as a hook co-operating with a short shaft 33, fixed to the upper end of its rocking arm 28. Each bar 26 has a spring 34 which is fastened at one end to the bar 26 and at its other end to the corresponding rocking arm 28 is adapted to normally hold the rocking arm in its upright position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. To each finger 30 is fastened one end of a spring (not shown), the other end of which is secured to the bar 25. This spring is adapted to hold the finger pressed against the cams of the pattern chain. This latter spring is stronger than the spring 34 and thus the wire member 32 forces the rocking arm 28 to follow the movements of finger 3%. From every bar 25 extends a wire 35 or the like, which is also connected to the lower portion of shank 36, Fig. l, which latter is at its upper end is secured to a rod 37. The rods 37 are rotatably mounted in holes 38 in plates 39, secured to the knitting machine. The rods 37 are parallel to each other and to the needle bed. To the rods 37 may be detachably connected shanks 40, Figs. 1 and 4, which are of the same shape as the shanks 36. Every shank 40 is, at its lower end, hingedly connected to a needle actuating jack 4 1, which slides in a groove in the needle bed.

In operation, the chain wheel 7 is driven and the chain 5 will move the slide 2 backwards and forwards. As rod 4 is pivotally connected at one end to the projection 3 of the slide 2 and at its opposite end to chain 5 at 9, said chain will move the slide backwards and forwards when the wheel 7 is rotated. When the cams 8 and 9 each reach the lever 10, which occurs just before the slide reaches its end positions, they raise the free end of said lever 10. Wire 12 now pivots arm 14 towards standard 13 in a clockwise direction. The pawl 16 moves to the right of Fig. 2 over wheel 18 and is positioned thereon for turning the pattern chain Wheel a distance of one tooth thereof. At the same time the projection 20 on the crank 19, Fig. 2, moves with arm 14 and crank 19 is then turned in a clockwise direction. The rod 23. which as described, is fixedly connected to crank 19, will now strike the rocking arms 28, which are in their upright position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. As will be clearly understood from Fig. 3, only those rocking arms 28, whose fingers 30 are in contact with the upper portion of a cam 43 of the pattern chain 43a, will be able to be in an upright position. Thus, the pattern chain determines how many of said rocking arms will be turned by the rod 23. The slots in bars 26, in which said rocking arms are guided, are cut obliquely and rocking arms 23 have correspondingly cut portions so that the rocking arms are prevented from an anti-clockwise movement relative to the bar 26 from their erected position, shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Bars 26 and also bars 25 are thus turned in an anti-clockwise direction when arm 14 is operated and the corresponding rocking arms are in their upright position. This causes the wires 35, Fig. l, to turn the corresponding rods 37 in a clockwise direction. All the shanks 40, which are connected to the rod 37 being moved are then swung and the actuating jacks 41 control their respective needles. From the foregoing it will be apparent that it is possible to change the pattern either by varying the cams on the pattern chain or by varying the relationship of shanks 4t) and jacks 41 to the rods 37. It is understood that the shanks 40 may be of any desired shape and that the shanks 36 are connected to springs, which will normally hold them in a rest position. It is also understood that the machine is provided with a device for yam-change and as many members 25-34 as there are different colored or otherwise distinctive yarns connected to this device. Said yarn change device forms no part of the invention and is in consequence not shown but it will be understood that any suitable device of this kind may be used.

In Fig. there is shown a modified needle control unit. The pattern chain is here replaced by a Jacquard card 65' which in a well-known manner is perforated according to the desired pattern. Said needle control unit has the same location in relation to the knitting machine as the mechanism of Figs. 2 and 3 above described. The device of Fig. 5 is thus substituted for the elements of Figs. 2 and 3, in a knitting machine of the type as shown in Fig. 1. This modified unit consists of a U-shaped frame 43b, between whose vertical plates44 a shaft 45 is rotatably mounted. An actuating arm 47 is secured to said shaft, and is at its other end hingedly connected to a connecting rod 48, which in turn is connected to an eccentric (not shown) or the ll'ike, which is driven by the motor not shown), which drives the machine. A swing assembly 49 is also fixedly connected to said shaft and said swing assembly consists of two axially spaced apart plates 50, mutual-1y connected by means of a rod 51. To said frame a plate 53 is swingably mounted as at 52. Plate 53 rests with its underside against the horizontal portion 54 of frame 43b. It is connected by means of an arm (not shown) to an eccentric (not shown) driven by said motor. Adjacent one end of plate 53 a row of holes 55 are provided with the row extending transversely. Just above this row of holes there is positioned at a given vertical distance from the top side of said plate, a holder 56, which is secured to the vertical portions of frame 43b. In said holder there is provided a series of holes 57, which are concentric with said holes 55 in the plate 53 and there are slidably mounted in these holes 57 pins 58. The holder is at its upper portion provided with grooves 59, which extend perpendicular to the length of the same, and which communicate each with one of said holes 57. Said grooves serve as guides for bars 60, consisting of straight rods, which at one end are bent forming hooks 61 and at their other end are connected to wires 62 or the like. The wires 62 are, as described in connection with the wires 35, connected to the shanks 36 for controlling the rods 37. A cylinder 63, provided with pins or the like for communication with corresponding holes in the Jacquard card 65 for the advancement of the same, is rotatably mounted spaced from frame 43. Said Jacquard card, which has the form of an endless strip of paper or the like, runs between rolls (not shown) so adapted that the card will be advanced when the cylinder 63 is turned. For the advancement of the cylinder a ratchet wheel 66, co-operating with a pawl 67 is fixedly connected to the same. Pawl 67 is pivotally mounted on one arm of a crank arm' 68 andthe other arm of said crank arm is by means of a connecting rod 68' connected to an eccentric (not shown),

driven by said motor. A coil spring 69 holds crank arm' 68 in a given position, limited by a stop (not shown).

To said frame intermediate shaft 45 and holder 56 a second swing assembly 71 is pivoted as at 70. The swing assembly 71 consists of two spaced apart plates 72, mutually connected by means of a rod 73. Intermediate said rod and pivot 70 a rod 75 is pivotally connected to plates 76 at 74. The other end of rod 75 is pivotally connected to the first mentioned arm of crank arm 68.

In the operation of the device of Fig. 5 the plate 53 is swung upwardly by means ofits respective eccentric and said upswung position is in Fig. 5 shown in dotted lines. The Jacquard card 65 is now pressed against pins 58. Those pins, which thus come in contact with the card are raised and those pins which communicate with holes in said card are not raised as they are permitted to penetrate the holes 55 in plate 53. Depending upon the perforations in said Jacquard card some pins 58 will thus be raised and others not. The pins which are raised move the bars 60, which are positioned over them, upwardly to the dotted position, while the other bars will remain in the position shown in full lines.

While the plate stands in its upper position, the actuating arm 47 moves and turns the swing assembly 49 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The movement of the arm 47 depends on the eccentric as before mentioned. When the swing assembly 49 turns, the rod 51 of the same strikes all bars 60, which are in their upper position and the remaining bars 60 are not contacted. The

, wires 62 thus causes some of the rods 37 to turn and the shanks 40 and jacks 41 attached to the rods 37 are moved to actuate their needles.

Said plate and said swing assembly 49 are then moved to their rest positions. After that the crank arm 68 is turned clockwise by means of its eccentric and the pawl 67 turns said ratchet wheel and the cylinder 63 the distance of one tooth of said ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction. At the same time rod 75 turns swing assembly 71 in an anti-clockwise direction. The rod 73 of said swing assembly 71 now forces all the bars 60 to move to their rest or lowered position. In order to reduce the wear on said Jacquard card the bars 60 are not controlled by springs but adapted to move downwards by means of gravity, which would have made it possible for a bur or the like to prevent said movement. Swing assembly 71 prevents such failure. The above mentioned movements are arranged for taking place in time with the slide others to other mechanisms of the machine as described above.

The machine, here described, is but an example of how the invention may be carried out. The invention is capable of many alterations and such changes thereto as come within the scope of the appended claims is deemed to be a part of the invention. The pattern chain or the Jacquard card may for example be adapted to Work directly on arms 40, 84 or on plates 76. It is of course also possible to control the needles of the back needle-bed in the same manner as described in connection to the front needle-bed.

What we claim is: t

l. Needle actuating mechanism for a knitting machine having needles set in a straight row and a slide thereabove comprising a plurality of needle actuating members each for one of said needles, a series of independently turnable bar members, a series of connecting rods each pivotally connected to one of said needle actuating members and fixed to one of said turnable bar members, a plurality of selecting members each being connected to one of said turnable bar members, a pattern device, means operable by said pattern device for moving certain of said selecting members according to the particular pattern desired to an operative position leaving the re- .mainder in an inoperative position, means operable at the beginning and end of each stroke of said slide for moving those selecting members in their operative position raising the needle connected thereto through the respective turnable bar member, connecting rod, and needle actuating member.

2. Needle actuating mechanism; for a knitting machine having needlesset in a straight row and a slide thereabove as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pattern device consists of a pattern chain having projections capable of moving certain of said selecting members according to the pattern of said projections to a position for being contacted by said selecting members movinglmeans, a scrim of arms each connected to and extendingtransversely from one of said turnable bar members and a series of wires each connected to one of said selecting members and its respective turnable bar member trans verse arm.

3. Needle actuating mechanism for a knitting machine, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pattern device con sists of a Jacquard card, a swingably mounted plate provided with a series of holes over which said Jacquard card travels, pins concentric with said plate holes, a holder positioned a vertical distance from said plate and having said pins slidably mounted therein with said pins having one end projecting towards said plate, bars having the opposite end of said pins in contact therewith, said bars being provided with books and an arm which contacts said hooks of said bars which are in an upswung position for moving the same and wherein said pins will influence said bars in such a manner that when said plate is swung upward those of said pins which are in contact with the Jacquard card will raise their respective bars and those of said pins which communicate with the holes in said Jacquard card will not raise their respective bars.

4. Needle actuating mechanism for a knitting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pattern device consists of a Jacquard card, a swingably mounted plate provided with a series of holes over which travels said J acquard card, pins concentric with said plate holes, a holder positioned a vertical distance from said plate having said pins slidably mounted therein with said pins having one end projecting towards said plate, bars having the opposite end of said pins in contact therewith, said bars having hooks, an arm which contacts the hooks of those of said bars which are in an upswung position for moving the same and wherein said pins will influence said bars in such a manner that when said plate is swung upward those of said pins which are in contact with the Jacquard card will raise their respective bars and those of said pins which communicate with the holes in said Jacquard card will not raise their respective bars, and bar return means capable of forcing all of said bars into their lower position when said plate is swung back to its rest position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,749 Herfuth Mar. 24, 1896 1,875,855 Coudert et al Sept. 6, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,623 Italy Aug. 14, 1935 535,867 Germany Oct. 1, 1931 854,990 Germany Nov. 10, 1952 

